Why Canada's veterans support the PSAC strike

by Mercury Sat 29 Apr 2023, 4:28 pm

Why Canada's veterans support the PSAC strike

Advancements made through public sector negotiations benefit those who serve, and all Canadians.

Christopher Banks
Published Apr 29, 2023

Historically, veterans have long been supporters of both public and private-sector unions.

The Canadian government showed a disinterest in veterans returning from the First World War, as the positions they had left in order to serve their country were closed or filled, leaving nothing for them. But as the years went on, veterans transitioning from military service to the trades or other professions have found successful careers in the public and private sectors. There, they became union members and invested in supporting striking workers and labour movements.

But it goes beyond the historical. Legally, the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces are forbidden from forming a union or taking part in any form of collective or labour action. Instead, they can only benefit from the collective agreements the public sector unions secure. And as this government has allowed the pay, benefits, equipment, buildings and even housing for serving military and their families to depreciate — while always finding the funds or justification to increase the pay and benefits of MPs — the priorities of the government have been laid bare.

Advancements made through public sector negotiations benefit those still serving, and all Canadians.

As soldiers, sailors and air crews depart the military, we are told the federal public service awaits us with open arms. This is truer for medically released veterans who are guaranteed a position with the public service through Priority Hire; these veterans who are released medically are vulnerable and often disabled. But what good is that offer when we see how the public service is treated by the government? What good is a guaranteed position that isn’t keeping up with the pace of inflation or the cost of living?

Even for veterans who transition from the military to the private sector, the benefits of the public service labour movements are felt by all sectors. When the public service improves, other unions have bargaining power.

Today’s soldiers and veterans are also better educated and informed than previous generations. We see past the familiar talking points of “blank cheques” and “unreasonable demands” and see the same language used as when the government has broken promises to us. We are weary of politicians ever so happy to see us in our uniforms or our medals for a quick photo op and a “thank you for your service,” but who then ignore our needs.

Justin Trudeau may remember that before the 2015 election, he promised veterans: “If I earn the right to serve this country as your prime minister, no veteran will be forced to fight their own government for the support and compensation that they have earned …” Yet, from private contracting of veteran health care to offering MAiD to disabled veterans, this is another broken promise.

We also understand that this strike is about more than a pay increase. As a wounded veteran who depends on the services that Veterans Affairs Canada offers, I know it is crucial that when I call my case manager, she’s there. It is not helping us when VAC has a 40:1 client-to-case manager ratio instead of the 25:1 standard ratio. Or that it takes veterans months or years to get a decision on an application because of file backlogs caused by staff shortages, which the government only wishes to fill through temporary contracts.

The government is giving the public service the same “do more with significantly less” treatment it has given the military for decades.

Finally, we know that aside from the comparatively minor inconveniences caused by this strike, the striking workers are our spouses, our neighbours, our friends, members of our communities and a vital component of the complex engine driving our nation. They deserve fair treatment and a fair deal. And all Canadians deserve to have a public service that works effectively.

Christopher Banks, CD, is a 20-year veteran of the Canadian Army, a veteran of peacekeeping in Bosnia, and a combat veteran of Afghanistan, who was medically released for PTSD and now dedicates his time to advocating for veterans and mental health. He is not a member or employee of PSAC nor an employee of the federal government.

Ottawa Citizen

by JAFO Sun 30 Apr 2023, 11:38 am

I sure as hell DO NOT SUPPORT PSAC! So speak for yourself son!

Why Canada's veterans support the PSAC strike

Why Canada's veterans support the PSAC strike

Re: Why Canada's veterans support the PSAC strike